Adjustable bedrest with improved bellows structure

ABSTRACT

A BELLOWS ASSEMBLY FOR A PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED ADJUSTABLE BEDREST IS PROVIDED WITH INTEGRAL CHANNEL MEANS WHEREBY PRESSURIZED AIR IS INTRODUCED INTO WHAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE THE WIDER END OF THE INFLATED BELLOWS AND IS THEN CHANNELLED DOWN INTO THE OPPOSED END OR APEX OF THE V-SHAPED BELLOWS. FROM THE APEX THE PRESSURIZED AIR IS THEN FREE TO MOVE INTO THE SEPARATE CHAMBERS DEFINED BY THE CHANNELS AND THE ADJACENT CONFRONTING LAYERS OF THE   BELLOWS. THIS PROVIDES A MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE WHICH PERMITS SMOOTH ELEVATING ACTION.

J. R. AYMAR 3,606,623

Sept. 21, 1971 ADJUSTABLE BEDREST WITH IMPROVED BELLOWS STRUCTURE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1970 INVENTOR. JULIAN R. AYM/IR ATTORNEY J.R; AYMAR 3,606,623

ADJUSTABLE BEDREST WITH IMPROVED BELLOWS STRUCTURE Sept. 21, 1971 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1970 381, FIG. 6

FIGS

10 INVENTOR.

JULIAN R. AYMAR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,606,623 ADJUSTABLEBEDREST WITH IMPROVED BELLOWS STRUCTURE Julian Robert Aymar, NorthMerrick, N.Y.; Michael R.

Aymar, administrator of the estate of said Julian Robert Aymar, assignorto Surgical Dynamics, Inc., Berkeley Heights, NJ.

Filed Jan. 9, 1970, Ser. No. 1,727 Int. Cl. A47c 21/00 US. Cl. 5-327B 11Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bellows assembly for a pneumaticallyoperated adjustable bedrest is provided with integral channel meanswhereby pressurized air is introduced into what will ultimately be thewider end of the inflated bellows and is then channelled down into theopposed end or apex of the V-shaped bellows. From the apex thepressurized air is then free to move into the separate chambers definedby the channels and the adjacent confronting layers of the bellows. Thisprovides a mechanical advantage which permits smooth elevating action.

The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define the inventionof the application, which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor isit intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

The present invention relates generally to adjustable bedrests and moreparticularly to an improved bellows construction for selectively liftinga portion of a mattress.

There are many instances wherein a person confined to bed finds it moreconvenient to have a portion of the mattress lifted in order to providea more comfortable reclining position. The prior art has many examplesof complex mechanisms that include linkages and drive means forselectively placing various portions of the mattress in an elevatedposition. Generally speaking, the prior art is characterized by complexconstruction. Therefore use of the prior art is limited because of thesubstantial cost of the structure. Further, the prior art structure doesnot readily lend itself to use in an individuals home. By Way ofcontrast the most common prior art structure is usually found in ahospital, a rest home or a convalescence home where the initial cost ofthe equipment can be amortized over great lengths of time.

A specific form of prior art is a pneumatic bedrest illustrated, inFrench Pat. 1,422,606 that was published on Nov. 15, 1965. In the Frenchpatent a flexible bellows arrangement is used to lift a back supportmember and therefore, a portion of the torso of the patient. Because ofits bulk the structure shown in the French patent is not adapted forplacement under the mattress. Pressurized air is admitted into thebellows arrangement proximate one end thereof without any means forcontrolling the direction of air flow so that the bellows may beexpanded to form a generally triangular shape. Expansion of the bellowslifts the back support member. The inlet means for the pressurized airmust necessarily be positioned under the patients torso so that in theinflated position, there will be some discomfort resulting from thethickness of the air inlet means.

Another similar example of the prior art construction is shown in GermanPat. 581,796 issued on July 13, 1933. The construction of the Germanpatent provides for air inlet means intermediate the front and reartransverse edges of the bellows. This too requires some extra thicknessat a location which will necessarily be uncomfortable. Of particularimportance is the fact that the German patentee provides separate airinlet means for each bellows 3,606,623 Patented Sept. 21, 1971 section.As in the French patent discussed above, no means is disclosed forcontrolling the direction of pressurized air flow.

My own issued Pat. 3,392,412 granted on July 16, 1968 provides means forpermitting air to be admitted into the bellows proximate the rearwardend thereof which will form the wide end of the inflated bellows.Pressurized air is directed from the inlet means to the various bellowssections by means of aligned apertures in the bellows sheets. While thisconstruction has proven to be highly satisfactory, I have found thatimprovements can be made in the bellows construction to insure that thepressurized air is admitted and channelled directly to the apex of thebellows uniformly and whereby the power source for the pressurized airis used most effectively.

In its broadest aspect the present invention provides means forintroducing air into that portion of the bellows that will become thewidest part when inflated. Channel means formed integrally with the heatscalable plastic bellows sheets direct the pressurized air from theinlet means to the narrow portion of the bellows which will become theapex. From the apex the pressurized air is allowed to enter the variousbellows sections so that in effect there is a mechanical advantage usedto inflate the bellows.

The air inlet means is a flat plastic member that is heat sealed to thelowermost bellows section so that in the deflated condition there is nobulge that will cause any discomfort to the user. The channels means areformed by a locally heat sealing various bellows sections to each other.While direct communication between the bellows sections is alsoprovided, as disclosed in my aforementioned issued patent, thepressurized air does not initially flow directly to all bellows sectionsbut instead is directed to the apex of the bellows by the channel meansand from the apex is the pressurized is then used to inflate the variousbellows sections. This construction permits breaking the cohesionbetween the relatively smooth layers of the bellows material and alsopermits the displacement of air to take maximum advantage of the liftingarea per square inch. It has been found that without the use of thechannels that will be described hereinafter, the bellows will not liftuniformly. That is, there will be an erratic rise upon initialintroduction of pressurized air.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide animproved, adjustable bedrest.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved, bellows typeadjustable bedrest that may be placed beneath a mattress withoutinterfering with the gornal usage of the mattress when the bellows isdeate An important object of this invention is to provide improved meansfor inflating the bellows as described above.

A particular object of the invention is to provide channel meansintegral with the bellows as described above, for initially directingpressurized air towards the apex of the bellows.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved air fillerpiece for a bellows like bedrest.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention,will, in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part,become obvious from the more detailed description of the invention,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms anintegral part thereof.

In the various figures, designate like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present invention in theinflated condition and installed on a like reference characters bed, themattress being shown fragmentarily in phantom outline;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view partially broken away toillustrate a feature of the bellows construction, the upper layer of thebellows being peeled back to illustrate the integral channels;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the bedrest comprisingthe present invention with a portion of the bellows being broken away;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view in section and on anenlarged scale illustrating an adjacent layer of the bellowsconstruction;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the inflated bellows shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view in sectionillustrating the apex of the bellows construction;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view taken along line 77 of FIG.3 and illustrating the air filler piece in relation to the bellows;

FIG. 8 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, primarily in section, illustratingthe bellows bedrest in the deflated condition and particularly showingthe longitudinal air channels;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, side elevational view illustrating the airchannel at the apex of the bellows at the point in time when thepressurized air is admitted; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view taken along line 1111 of FIG. 9.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular in FIG. 1 there is showna bed B including an inner spring S and a mattress M (shown in phantomoutline). The bed B includes a head board H with the adjustable headrest 20 comprising the present invention positioned proximate thereto.There is also shown in FIG. 1 a conventional pump motor 22 that providesa source of pressurized air. Line cord 24 connects the pump motor 22 toa suitable source of electrical power indicated generally by the walloutlet 26. A conduit 28 extends from the pump motor 22 to the bellowsassembly 20 and a switch 30 is connected by means of conductor 32 to theair pump motor 22. It should be noted at this time that the air pumpmotor 22 and the switch 30 are fully described in my aforementionedpatent so that additional details thereof need not be provided at thistime. However, it should be understood that other solenoid valves usedin the air pump 22, for example, as shown in my co-pending application,Ser. No. 1,728, filed concurrently may also be used. It should befurther noted that while the bellows assembly 20 is shown positionedadjacent and opening towards the head board H it may be placed elsewhereon the bed, for example near the foot of the bed. The bellows assembly20 may, in fact, be positioned anywhere on the bed and may be opened inthe direction of either the head board or the foot of the bed.

Turning now particularly to FIGS. 2, 3, 9, it will be seen that thebellows assembly 20 is comprised of upper and lower boards of 34, 36,respectively, both of which are encased by thin sheets of a flexible,heat scalable plastic material. The boards 34, 36- may be thin sheets ofwood or similar rigid material. A plurality of pairs of heat sealableplastic sheets 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b, are joined to each otherand to the plastic sheets that encase the boards 34 and 36 at a hingepoint 44 shown in FIG. 6. Finally, there is provided a length of plasticsheet 46 extending from the hinge point 44 in a direction opposite tothe bellows sheets 38, 40, 42 and the rigid boards 34 and 36. The sheet46 is intended to be placed underneath the mattress and thereforeunderneath the patients body so that when the bellows assembly 20 isinflated it will be restrained from moving longitudinally with respectto the bed B.

Reference is now had to FIGS. 2 and 11 wherein the construction of thebellows is illustrated. The confronting sheets 38, 40, and 42 of thebellows 20 are heat sealed to each other in a conventional manner alongthree marginal edges 50, 52 and 54. The fourth marginal edge 56 is, infact, the hinge 44 that is common to all the sheets as well as the upperand lower rigid panels 34 and 36. The hinge 44 is actually the apex ofthe bellows when it is in the expanded position. The pair of sheets 38,40, 42 are additionally heat sealed to each other along an innerU-shaped line 58 the ends of which terminate proximate the heat sealededge 56. In addition, the sheet 3812 is heat sealed to sheet 40a and thesheet 4012 is heat sealed to the sheet 42a along lines that defineradiating channels 60, 62, and 64. It will be seen in FIG. 11particularly that heat sealing lines 60, 62, and 64 in combination withheat sealing lines 58 define open ended air chambers 66, 68, 70, and 72.It should be noted that the portion of the bellows sheets intermediatethe heat seal lines 50, 52, 54 and 58 act as a gusset when the bellowsexpand.

The heat sealed channels 60, 62, and 64 have a common terminus atanppening 74 provided in each of the bellows sheets except the uppermostsheet 42b. An air filter piece 76 is heat sealed to the lowest bellowssheet 38a. Thus pressurized air that is introduced through the fillerpiece 76 initially flows through the channels defined by the heat seals60, 62, and 64. When air is introduced through the air filler piece 76it will flow through the channels 60, 62, and 64 towards the apex 44 ofthe bellows 20. The pressurized air will leave the channels 60, 62, and64 which terminate proximate but slightly spaced from the heat sealededge 56 and then will fill the air chambers 66, 68, 70 and 72 startingfrom a position proximate the apex 44 of the bellows 20. This mode ofoperation is shown in FIG. 10 it being understood that the apex 44 isthe right and in filling the chamber 66, 68, 70 and 72 the pressurizedair flows to the left.

The air filler piece 76 is a molded plastic member having a firsttubular portion 78 and a flat body portion 80. The tubular portion 78includes a tapered neck 82 on which is externally positioned an O-ring84. The conduit 28 is slipped over the neck portion 82 and the O-ring 84and a second O-ring 86 is then slipped over the outer end of the conduit28 in order to secure the conduit to the tapered neck 82. The flathollow body portion '80 is positioned between the lower board 36 and thelower bellows sheet 38a and is provided with an opening 88 that is incommunication with the several openings 74 in the bellows sheets. Thus,when the air filler piece 76 is in position, it will not interfere withthe patient resting on the mattress.

As in my aforementioned patent the bellows are expanded by placing theswitch 30 in a first position so that the pump motor 22 deliverspressurized air through the conduit 28 to the air filler piece 76 andthen to the interior of the bellows 20. Movement of the switch 30 to asecond position actuates a solenoid valve in the air pump motor 22 whichbleeds the air from the bellows 20. When the switch 30 is in the firstposition the pressurized air travels through the conduit 28 through airfiller piece 76 and out of the opening 88 thereof into the bellows 2'0.The pressurized air first flows through the openings 74 in the bellowsand then through the channels 60, 62, and 64 that are formed by the heatsealing. Thus the pressurized air is first directed to the apex 44 ofthe bellows 20 and then into the chambers 66, 68, 70, and 72. In effectthen, a mechanical advantage is obtained by this action since thepressurized air acts as a wedge and forces open the bellows. Themechanical advantage is the product of the distance from the openings 74to the remote ends of the channels 60, 6'2, 64 times the force 05 thepressurized air in a direction perpendicular to the face of the bellowssheets and is comparable to the effect achieved with an inclined plane.This construction also permits the pressurized air to break the cohesionbetween the adjacent bellows sheets. and ensures a uniform lift withoutthe erratic rise that was prevelant within the initial opening of theprior art devices.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the inventionpresently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made thereto without departing from thespirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by said Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable bedrest of the type adapted to be inflated by a sourceof pressurized air that is coupled to said bedrest by means of aconduit, said bedrest comprising:

(a) a bellows assembly including a plurality of heat sealable plasticsheets, said bellows assembly being of substantially triangular crosssection when inflated, the apex of said bellows assembly being definedby a heat sealed marginal edge common to all said bellows sheets;

(b) air inlet means for providing fluid communication between the sourceof pressurized air and the interior of said bellows, said air inletmeans being positioned proximate an edge opposite said apex of saidbellows assembly; and

(c) channel means extending from said air inlet means and terminatingproximate said apex of said bellows assembly, said channel means beinginside said bellows assembly and in direct fluid communication with thesource of pressurized air whereby the pressurized air expands saidbellows assembly starting at said apex thereof.

2. The bedrest in accordance with claim 1. wherein said channel meansare defined by heat sealed lines joining adjacent ones of said bellowssheets.

3. The bedrest in accordance with claim 1 wherein said air inlet meansis heat sealed to one of said bellows sheets.

4. The bedrest in accordance with claim 2. wherein pairs of said bellowssheets are heat sealed to each other along remaining marginal edges,selected pairs of said bellows sheets being heat sealed to each otheralong a boundary line dimensionally inward of said remaining marginaledges other than said apex marginal edge to define, in combination withsaid channel means, a plurality of separate air chambers that are influid communication with said channel means.

5. The bedrest in accordance with claim 4 wherein the areas of saidbellows sheets intermediate said remaining marginal edges and saidboundary line are not in fluid communication with the source ofpressurized air, said areas of said bellows sheets acting as gussetswhen said bellows assembly is expanded.

6. The bedrest in accordance with claim 4 wherein said air inlet meansis positioned inward of said boundary line, said channel means radiatingfrom said air inlet means in a direction towards but terminating shortof said apex edge.

7. The bedrest in accordance with claim 6 wherein all said bellowssheets except one include an opening aligned with said air inlet means.

'8. The bedrest in accordance with claim 1 further including rigidmembers covering the upper and lower surfaces of said bellows assembly,said rigid members being secured to said bellows assembly at said apexedge.

9. The bedrest in accordance with claim 1 further including a flexibleplastic sheet heat sealed to said bellows assembly proximate said apexedge, said flexible sheet extending in a direction away from saidbellows assembly.

10. The bedrest in accordance with claim 1 wherein said air inlet meanscomprises a substantially flat, hollow plastic body member having anopening in one surface thereof in fluid communication with the interiorofi said bellows assembly and a tubular portion adapted to be secured tothe air conduit.

11. The bedrest in accordance with claim 10 wherein said tubular portionincludes a tapered neck and a first O-ring mounted on said neck, the endof the air conduit being positioned on said neck over said first O-ring,there being further included a second O-ring positioned over the end ofthe air conduit and about said neck in axially spaced relationship withsaid first O-ring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 760,730 5/ 1904 Carbonari 84-3762,769,182 1 l/ 1956 Nunlist 5-68 3,032,059 5/1962 =McLeod 5-67 3,089,1505/ 1963 Briggs et al. 56 8 2,419,775 4/ 1947 Hazard 103-l48 3,392,4127/1968 Aymar 5-327 FOREIGN PATENTS 581,796 8/1933 Germany l03l481,422,606 11/ 1965 France l03-l48 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner A. M.CALVERT, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5--68; 103-148

